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berean jones
02748827a1016a393c780aec1d96191a3b8df1c397d09351029cbb25b2d83443
Bitcoiner. Engineer. Christian. Theologian Writer. Husband. Father. Trapped on Prison Island UK. #Bitcoin #Christian #Family

Hallelujah!

This is the foundation of the gospel, the proclamation that God reigns. The kingdom of heaven inaugurated when the Son was raised from the dead and given glory. The takeover is in progress, but the outcome is already secured.

"The LORD has established His throne in the heavens and His kingdom reigns over all"

"The LORD said to my Lord (Jesus) "Sit at My right hand until I make all Your enemies to become Your footstool"".

"When He (God) brings the firstborn (Jesus) again into the world (resurrection), He says "let all the angels of God worship Him".

"Jesus said, "All authority is given to Me, in heaven and on earth! Therefore go into all the world and make disciples of all nations"".

"God has highly exalted Him and given Him the 'name above all names', that at name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that He is LORD".

etc...

the challenge of the gospel is first a challenge of submission to the already reigning King, to accept peace on the terms He offers, and acknowledge His rights over us... we prove our sincerity in this by doing the things He says, otherwise if His word is so easily flaunted then our confession is worthless.

"Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord' but don't do the things that I say"?

Yes there's all sorts of ways in which this unfolds, healing from brokenness, freedom from addiction, lifting the burden of guilt, receiving hope, joy, peace... seeing the world through new eyes, learning to love others as we love ourselves, doing good works, finding fellowship and community, exploring theology and the mysteries of God, overcoming fear of death... all these follow, but should not be mistaken, by themselves, as a sign that we made peace with God, if we haven't already submitted to His reign in this life.

Yeah I noticed my S9 Heater was hitting 9TH/s on just two hashboards this week, running at 800W, (the third board is fried and it's taking forever to find a r/viable replacement).

Don't worry about the boomer thing. I'm firmly Gen X and I still snap before screenshot.

😂

They're all forms of the same evil but, if I'd start with property tax.

It might seem like the least amount taken each year but it's the foundation on which the rest of the extortion racket rests.

GM!

Stepping up my corporate bitcoin game, looking to start nudging small cap company boards to consider #bitcoin seriously

1. For corporate treasury

2. For meeting actual ESG, not fake ESG

3. For positioning to attract bitcoiners to their brand.

In that order I think?

What's missing?

Who are the hot experts to be following on all this?

Anyone doing it well already?

Pierre Rochard? Parker Lewis? Alex Gladstein? Matt Odell's VC Fund Guys?

Anyone with more European focus? Of course there's the Saifedean Starter Pack, but what's beyond?

#asknostr

Is it inefficient or is it secretly uploading stuff from your mobile?

An oldie but a goodie 👍

If he isn't riding barechested on a white horse through rugged terrain looking for bears to wrestle, it doesn't count.

Yes!

Give the knowledge of Bitcoin as a gift first, then add a few satoshis to help them feel invested. You could be setting someone up on a life-changing journey for the better, not just tempting them to swap it for degenerate tokens.

😂

Peter Thiel's Misadventures...

Peter Thiel's involvement with several high-profile companies, including PayPal, Palantir, Facebook, and others, has drawn both admiration and sharp criticism. Below is a critical overview of these companies and their broader societal implications.

---

### **1. PayPal: Digital Payments and Surveillance**

Co-founded by Peter Thiel, PayPal revolutionized digital payments but also paved the way for significant financial centralization and surveillance.

- **Positive Contributions**: PayPal made global online transactions more accessible and established the foundation for e-commerce.

- **Criticisms**:

- **Financial Censorship**: PayPal has been criticized for freezing accounts arbitrarily, often targeting activists or organizations based on vague terms of service. This raises concerns about the abuse of centralized financial power.

- **Surveillance Concerns**: PayPal’s data-sharing with financial and intelligence agencies under the guise of anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering laws suggests a deep entanglement with state surveillance.

---

### **2. Palantir: The Backbone of Surveillance**

Palantir, also co-founded by Thiel, specializes in data analytics and surveillance for governments and corporations.

- **Key Role**: It provides tools used by intelligence agencies like the CIA and police forces globally for tracking individuals and identifying patterns.

- **Criticisms**:

- **Mass Surveillance**: Palantir’s involvement in controversial programs like predictive policing has drawn ire for enabling racial profiling and potential civil rights violations.

- **Weaponization of Data**: Palantir's software has been used in military operations, including in Ukraine, further blurring the line between corporate innovation and wartime intelligence.

---

### **3. Facebook (Meta): Monopolistic Practices and Privacy Violations**

Thiel was an early investor in Facebook, which became a dominant force in social media but has faced scrutiny for its business practices.

- **Achievements**: Facebook redefined global communication and advertising.

- **Criticisms**:

- **Privacy Breaches**: Facebook’s repeated data privacy scandals, such as the Cambridge Analytica affair, highlighted systemic abuses of user data.

- **Manipulation**: Algorithms designed to maximize engagement have been linked to the spread of misinformation, polarization, and mental health issues.

---

### **4. Clearview AI: Facial Recognition and Privacy Erosion**

Thiel-backed Clearview AI has advanced facial recognition technology, claiming it can identify nearly anyone with its vast database of images.

- **Key Role**: Used by law enforcement and militaries, such as during the Ukraine war.

- **Criticisms**:

- **Privacy Invasion**: Clearview AI scrapes billions of public images without consent, leading to widespread criticism and legal challenges.

- **Misuse of Technology**: Critics fear its tools could be exploited for authoritarian control, surveillance of dissidents, or even trivial matters like identifying individuals at protests.

---

### **5. Other Ventures: Anduril, Founders Fund, and More**

Thiel’s influence extends to companies like Anduril, a defense contractor, and Founders Fund, a venture capital firm.

- **Anduril**:

- **Achievements**: Advances in military technology, such as autonomous drones, have significant strategic value.

- **Criticisms**: The company’s AI-driven tools fuel concerns about automation in warfare and the ethics of "killer robots".

- **Founders Fund**:

- Thiel's venture fund supports innovative but controversial companies like SpaceX and Palantir, emphasizing profit over ethical concerns.

---

### **Critical Summary**

Peter Thiel's companies have undeniably advanced technology but often at significant societal costs. These ventures highlight recurring patterns of:

1. **Privacy Erosion**: Many of Thiel’s companies profit from invasive technologies that prioritize data collection over user consent.

2. **Centralization of Power**: Despite his libertarian rhetoric, Thiel's ventures often concentrate control in corporate and state hands.

3. **Ethical Ambiguity**: Thiel's firms have enabled technologies that can be weaponized against marginalized communities, fostering surveillance states or exacerbating societal inequalities.

Thiel’s legacy underscores the risks of unchecked innovation, particularly when corporate ambitions align with government interests to prioritize surveillance, control, and profits over democratic accountability.

#peterthiel #history #authoritarianism #freespeech #pause #reflect #bitcoin #nostr #anarchyⒶ #decentralisation #freedomtech

Very helpful overview

Ironic that he wrote the foreword to the updated edition of The Sovereign Individual.

Had to check it was legit pidgin service and not some intern messing with Claude (or should I say, Claude messing with some intern).